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Seats: the good & the bad


Marvin's picture

By Marvin - Posted on 13 July 2012

NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.

I have decided to upgrade the OEM seat on my 2011 Trance - a Fizik Gobi - it just doesn't suit me (I wonder if these seats suit anyone?).

Previous experience suggests the Selle Italia range is good - I like the leather C2 on my road bike.

Any suggestions for a good mtb seat?

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HeezaGeeza's picture

Seat choice is so personal, as most responses will probably say. I know what you mean about the Gobi though. It isn't for everyone. If you want more a race / XC saddle look at the Selle Italia range, something with the groove cut out in the middle works well.

As for more of an all day ride / all mountain I tend to favour the WTB range (I think Rocket and Deep v). They suit my pelvis shape, they are short so you can get off them easily and well priced.

GAZZA's picture

Apart from my cyclocross bike. It's got a Prologo saddle and i must admit, i didn't change it because it's just so damn comfy. And i'm hearing good reports from everyone who has one.
But at the end of the day, as HeezaGeeza said, it's a very personal thing.

Brian's picture

If you like the one on your road bike and it doesn't cause you issues then fit that one to your mountain bike. Saddles are personal and it doesn't matter how good one is, if it doesn't fit its no good for you. I've tried so many brands and have ended up fitting the selle smp to all my bikes. I have a selle Italia gel flow on my commuter which I'm going to be replacing because even though its a good saddle it just not 100% for me

DudeistPriest's picture

A good idea is to see if you can find a store that has test seats available for loan (try before you buy), I know Specialized do.

war's picture

wembley cycles has the specialized seat measure and test program.
they called it the "ASSOMETER" HA HA HA...

CharlieB's picture

send me your unwanted one. To me they are the perfect seat so happy to takes your's off you (gratis) to save you storage space... Only need one more for all my bikes to be running them.

bergrad's picture

Fizik Gobi's and Brooks leather are the saddles that work best for my sit bones. One of the highlights on the specs of my 2011 Trance was the Gobi XM that came with it!

jht013's picture

I find my saddle so comfy, i think it has a little more padding than other brands, make it a little harder to get behind the saddle but the trade off is I can ride all day with no dramas

Cotic Tony's picture

I have been using SDG Bel Air's for ages but for 2hr plus rides they're not the best so I have recently been hunting around.
The seat bone theory is good but as 90% of people fit the medium it isn't quite as custom fit as it appears.
So far I am most comfortable on my WTB Silverado team although it was a little firm for the first couple of rides. A Bontrager Affinity RXL & WTB Devo also seem to be shaping up nicely. I've also learnt that a completely variable post head rather than incremental adjustable is essential for slight but noticeable changes in seat angle.

Worst I've tried was a Richie Breeze WCS Ti & a Fizik Nisene Ti. Both were super hard.

Good luck

Dirty Sandman's picture

I hated my Gobi, whinged and bitched about it, most uncomfortable seat I ever had, was looking for replacements, and then.....its just came good, we made up, and it was very comfortable for me, and then I broke it :-|

Ive put an old WTB on, and it suffices, the fizik tundra on my hardtail seems a good seat too.

Dicko's picture

For a good comfortable all round saddle have a look at the charge spoon Ti

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike...

I find it as one of the most comfortable saddles I have used.

jaseh's picture

It would be interesting to see a list of saddles people have tried before deciding on the "one".
I still haven't found the right saddle for me, in the past I've tried WTB, Silverado (close to the one) Rocket and pure V, Prologo choice and Nago (Best so far on the road bike), Selle Ialia SLR Flow, Fizik Nisene would have to be the worst and some cheapie's from Pro and Rav X. Surprisingly the Rav X Race X was the best one for the MTB but is no longer made in the same shape. I'm very tempted to try the Charge spoon next.

......'s picture

sdg belair is cushy

Marvin's picture

Interesting to see that it takes a few tries to get a good fitting seat (assometer aside).

So, there should be heaps of good seats floating about in people's garages? It would be good to see these on the market?

In the interests of all of this, I'll put the fizik gobi xm (my understanding is that xm stands for 'extra masochistic') on the market once I make a new choice.

Discodan's picture

Nice and comfy, light at 210g or so and plenty of cheap ones second hand since they started being OEM on Giants

whiskers's picture

sella italia gell flow for me Cool..note seat brackets are different sizes so fitting to the stem did require a hammer & pliers.

Slowpup's picture

Over the past 18 months I've converted all my bikes except one to the Spoon. CX, road, hardtail 29er and 26er. The only bike without runs a SDG Ti Fly which is shaped almost exactly the same, but is slightly more cushy.

I find the spoon is great for hunkered over bikes where the weight is more on the legs and less on the saddle so on the Jones, which is set up with a quite upright riding position, I stuck with the SDG.

TMI alert!
I understand some people find the stiching on the spoon chafes on those sensitive parts...... I initially experienced similar when riding a suede effect Spoon with just knicks separating the saddle and the boys. Baggy shorts were fine. So, on bikes that I'm likely to wear lycra I run a shiny finish spoon which works OK for me too. The suede finish spoon on one bike is polished smooth after 18 months riding, and seems to pose no problems wearing just lycra anymore.

I also follow the infinitely adjustable seat clamp rule. Often the difference between ouch and aaahhh can be as little as 2 mm attitude adjustment at the saddle nose. With a serrated seat clamp the only option to fine tune can be adjusting the bar height/reach which can open up all sorts of compromises elsewhere.

ADtheglorious's picture

Get to a Specialize shop and check out their range and see if you can be fitted on the "arseometer" (their description not mine) it measures the width of your sit bones and gives you an idea of what size saddle will work for you and your type of riding.

I had picked a replacement one and they offered to fit me and I had chosen a seat to wide!

mothy's picture

I'm pretty happy with my Specialized Phenom [Edit: Comp] Expert. I tried a Selle Italia Flite Gel for a while and it was a bit too harsh for my liking. As mentioned above, the 'fit' is a personal thing.

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